Boro were efficient, industrious and clinical in a first half that signalled their determination and intent.

They eased back a bit in the second half, made a string of defensive substitutions and let a poor Hull side have far more of the ball than their own efforts deserved.

But it was a job well done on the night with some patches of slick, passing play and a string of chances carved out against a struggling side that offered little and who levelled more by accident than design.

Boro ticked a lot of boxes and there a couple of stand-out individual displays, not least that of Adama Traore.

He is no longer a secret weapon but Traore is deadly when unleashed and brings terror to opposition defences.

His wriggling runs, blistering pace and flashing footwork carved Hull open, tearing holes in tattered defences and increasingly he is delivering neatly weighted passes for team-mates to take advantage of.

And he is taking up his burden at the back too, tracking and tackling.

Mo Besic almost scored a wonder goal that would have capped a superb home debut full of energy and guile.

The on-loan midfielder buzzed about, always demanding the ball and he moved it quickly, slickly and intelligently.

He has fast feet, good close control and neat distribution and a bite in the tackle.

And much maligned Rudy Gestede responded to recent criticism in the best possible way, with a goal scoring display.